Woman dies in swimming mishap in Nanaimo

Nanaimo RCMP and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating following a swimming mishap that claimed a woman’s life yesterday.

The incident happened shortly before 1 p.m. Monday when the 38-year-old woman and a family member were at Morningside Park in Nanaimo’s Hammond Bay area.

According to police, the victim was in an inflatable boat when she decided to go for a swim.

“She didn’t resurface for a few minutes and when she did, she appeared motionless,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “The individual on the beach swam out to her, did emergency first aid [but was] unable to resuscitate.”

Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighters were first on scene and helped the family member bring the woman to shore and continued with CPR until B.C. Ambulance paramedics arrived. Firefighters and ambulance crew worked at the scene for more than 30 minutes to try to save the woman’s life.

“She died at the scene,” O’Brien said. “Family members have been advised … Victim service are working with the family and extended family from other areas in B.C.”

O’Brien said police have found nothing suspicious about the death and the investigation is being turned over to the B.C. Coroners Service, which also attended the scene.

“I can confirm we are in the early stages of an investigation involving a female in her late 30s in what appears to be a non-suspicious death in a public beach area near Morningside Drive in Nanaimo,” said Andy Watson, B.C. Coroners Service spokesman, in an e-mail Monday night.